The P Club Faces State Investigation Over Alleged Discrimination Against Gays and Trannsexual Patrons

The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries says it's opening an investigation into a North Portland bar that's allegedly discriminating against gays and transsexuals.

BOLI Commissioner Brad Avakian issued a complaint Wednesday against the P Club, 5264 N. Lombard St. The complaint alleges that Christopher Penner, owner of P Club, called at least one regular customer and left voice mails asking the customer not to return to the P Club because it might lead people to believe it's a gay bar.

According to BOLI, Penner left another voice mail that said: “I’ve done some investigating why my sales are declining and there’s two things I keep hearing: People think that a) we’re a tranny bar or b) we’re a gay bar. We are neither. People are not coming in because they just don’t want to be there on a Friday night now.”

Penner tells WW he hasn't seen the complaint but denies the P Club or its staff has ever discriminated against anyone.

"We don't discriminate," Penner says. "Half the staff is gay or lesbian.... We don't discriminate for anything other than if they cause business to go down. But that's for anything."

"In the low usage areas, we found that our vehicles sit idle four times longer, ultimately affecting overall vehicle availability for the Portland membership base, as well as parking for the Portland community."

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